Transcript:

RECORDING: Thanks for calling the National Clinic of Planned Parenthood of Middle and East Tennessee. In order for us to serve you better, please listen carefully to the following options.

If you know your party’s extension, you may dial it now. For information about pregnancy testing or our abortion program, press 1. For medical services, including annual exams, emergency contraception, STI exams, and picking up refills, press 2. For directions, hours of operation and contact information, press 3. If you’re already familiar with our services, and you wish to schedule an appointment or speak to someone during our regular business hours, press 700. Also remember to check out Web site at —

(Dial button pressed 3x)

RECORDING: One moment, please.

RECORDING: Your time is valuable to us. We appreciate your patience and holding. Thank you.

RECORDING: We appreciate your call. Please continue to hold, and the next available representative will be with you shortly.

(Message repeated 3x)

CLINIC: Planned Parenthood?

CALLER: Hi. Yeah. I was calling to see if you guys do abortions there.

CLINIC: Yes.

CALLER: Do you know how much it cost for that?

CLINIC: It depends on a couple factors. What do you want the pill or the surgical?

CALLER: Well, I’m not really sure. I just haven’t had my period since January 15th, and I’m just really scared.

CLINIC: Excuse me?

CALLER: I haven’t had my period since January 15th, and I’m just really scared. So I don’t know.

CLINIC: Have you took a pregnancy test?

CALLER: No.

CLINIC: Don’t you think you need to?

CALLER: Well, yeah. I was wanting to know if you guys did that too.

CLINIC: Yeah. We do pregnancy tests. How old are you?

CALLER: I’m going to be 14 later on in March. My friend told me that you guys would have to tell my parents. But my boyfriend’s 22. Could he just sign whatever, and you wouldn’t have to tell anybody?

CLINIC: No. First of all, you can come in here by yourself for a pregnancy test or birth control without your parents’ consent. Your parents don’t need to know about — but as far as an abortion, we do have to have — you either have to have a judicial bypass from the court, or a marriage certificate, or emancipation paperwork, saying that you’re emancipated.

CALLER: Okay. Well, how do you get that?

CLINIC: You’ve got to go to court.

CALLER: How much does it cost for that?

CLINIC: You can get a judicial bypass. I have no idea. That’s something you might need to call the court about.

CALLER: Well, what about the judicial bypass?

CLINIC: You have to go to court for that too.

CALLER: Do you know how much that cost?

CLINIC: No. I’m going to ask somebody else if they know. Because I’m not really — dealt with that. You said you’re 14?

CALLER: I’ll be 14 on the 19th.

CLINIC: Oh, you’ll be 14. I’m just waiting for the other lady to get back.

Can you hold a moment?

CALLER: Yeah, I guess.

CLINIC: Okay.

(Short pause)

CLINIC: What I can tell you to do is just go ahead and come in for a pregnancy test, which will be (unclear), okay?

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Do you know where we’re located?

CALLER: Well, my boyfriend does. He would be the only way I could get there. Would that be all right if he was there with me?

CLINIC: Yeah, that’s fine. So go ahead and do a pregnancy test, and then we’ll go from there and give you the information you need to go ahead and try to get that judicial bypass order.

CALLER: Okay. Me and my boyfriend were talking about all this, and we don’t want anyone to know about us. Would you have to tell anybody about him?

CLINIC: About him what?

CALLER: Well, if he was paying cash for everything, would he have to sign any papers or fill out any forms? Like would his name be on anything?

CLINIC: No. If you’re getting the cash, you just pay cash. But I mean, that’s something we have to discuss, as far as — you can let your boyfriend drop you off or whatever.

CALLER: Would that be better?

CLINIC: I think. But I mean, that’s up to you. We don’t have the right to say anything. But you just need to come in for your pregnancy test. And then we can give you the information you need to go ahead and try to get that judicial bypass or that emancipation, to get emancipated. So you can go ahead and do that or whatever.

CALLER: Okay. Well, if it turned out that I wasn’t pregnant, could I get birth control from you guys?

CLINIC: Yeah.

CALLER: And you wouldn’t have to tell anybody about that?

CLINIC: No, uh-uh.

CALLER: I can’t drive or anything. Would my boyfriend be able to pick up the pills?

CLINIC: You would get them here.

CALLER: Okay. So he wouldn’t be able to pick up like the other ones after the first ones?

CLINIC: What do you mean? You come here every three months to get some more.

CALLER: So I have to be there.

CLINIC: Yeah. You have to be here to be checked. Have you ever had a pap smear?

CALLER: No.

CLINIC: Yeah. You have to have an exam.

CALLER: Oh, okay. Well, how much does it cost for that?

CLINIC: It’s not going to cost you anything because you’re under age. But once you turn 20, then that’s when they start charging, if you’re on (unclear).

CALLER: And you sure nobody has to know about me or my boyfriend or anything?

CLINIC: As far as you, I mean, that’s — you’re asking me questions that I’ve never had to deal with. So basically, all I know is you’re young enough where you can get your birth control for free.

CALLER: But would you have to say anything about my boyfriend?

CLINIC: Could you hold a minute?

CALLER: Okay.

(Short pause)

CLINIC: Thank you for holding. How may I help you?

CALLER: Hi. Yeah. Was I talking to you?

CLINIC: No. You were talking to someone. They transferred you to me. And what kind of questions did you have, hon?

CALLER: I was asking questions about getting an abortion. But me and my boyfriend were talking about all this, and we don’t want anyone to know about us. If I was getting an abortion or a pregnancy test or anything, would you guys have to say anything about him or me or anything to anybody?

CLINIC: Not in regard to your pregnancy test. How old are you?

CALLER: I’m going to be 14 on the 19th.

CLINIC: Okay. And how old is your boyfriend?

CALLER: He’s 22.

CLINIC: Okay. Now, you’re not going to be able to get an abortion without your parents’ consent.

CALLER: Oh, really?

CLINIC: That’s Tennessee law.

CALLER: Well, that other lady said that I could get a judicial bypass.

CLINIC: Not at your age you can’t.

CALLER: Oh, really?

CLINIC: No, ma’am. So what you need to do, is first of all you need to come in here and do a pregnancy test. Now what happens here, we don’t tell anybody about that. But in regards to having an abortion, you will have to have one of your parents sign for you. No judge is going to give you a judicial bypass at your age.

CALLER: Oh. If it turned out that I wasn’t pregnant, would it be okay to get birth control?

CLINIC: Yeah.

CALLER: And you wouldn’t have to tell anybody about that?

CLINIC: No, uh-uh. No, not about that, no. So you need to come in here and we’ll do a pregnancy test on you, and then we’ll go from there.

CALLER: Okay. I’m just really confused. I don’t know what to do.

CLINIC: Well, if it turns out that you are pregnant, you’re going to have to confide in one of your parents.

CALLER: But I can’t tell them anything.

CLINIC: Well, you don’t have a choice. You’re not going to be able to get anything done without your parent. You don’t have a choice.

CALLER: Okay. Well, I need to think about all this. If I had any other questions, could I call and talk to you? What was your name?

CALLER: Hi. Yeah. I was calling to see if you guys do abortions there.

CLINIC: Uh-huh.

CALLER: How much does that cost?

CLINIC: Up to 12 weeks it’s 300; 12 to 14 weeks, it’s 325. If you have a negative type blood, it’s an additional 50.

CALLER: Okay. Well, how do you know how far along you are?

CLINIC: Go by the first day of your last normal cycle.

CALLER: That was like January 3rd.

CLINIC: Going by January 3rd, that will put you at about eight weeks and four days.

CALLER: Okay. All right. The thing is, I’m going to be 14 on the 20th, and my friend said you guys would have to tell my parents. But my boyfriend’s 22. Could he just sign whatever it is, and they wouldn’t have to tell anybody?

CLINIC: No, it would have to be your parent.

CALLER: Oh. Well, is there any way not to tell my parents? Because they can’t find out at all.

CLINIC: Are you from Memphis Tennessee?

CALLER: Well, I live in Brunswick.

CLINIC: What part of town is that?

CALLER: It’s a little town north of Memphis.

CLINIC: So it’s actually what, Mississippi or Arkansas?

CALLER: It’s in —

CLINIC: It’s in Tennessee?

CALLER: — Tennessee. Yeah.

CLINIC: Well, down here in Memphis you can go through juvenile bypass. I don’t know if that would affect you or not. But I can give you the number, and you can call and see.

CALLER: Okay. Do you know how much that cost?

CLINIC: No, I doesn’t cost anything.

CALLER: Okay. So what was the number?

CLINIC: 523-9600.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Just tell them you’re calling about a juvenile bypass.

CALLER: Do you know if they usually allow that?

CLINIC: Uh-huh.

CALLER: Really?

CLINIC: Uh-huh.

CALLER: Okay. Well, could I come in there for a pregnancy test just to make sure I was pregnant?

CLINIC: Yeah. You haven’t took a pregnancy test yet?

CALLER: No, I just haven’t had my period, and we’re both scared.

CLINIC: Okay. Well, we do them today until 7 p.m.

CALLER: Okay. Would you have to tell my parents if I was getting a pregnancy test though?

CLINIC: No.

CALLER: All right.

CLINIC: If you come after 3 you can wait on your results. If you come before 3, you have to call back at 4.

CALLER: But me and my boyfriend were talking about all this. And he said he would pay for everything, but we don’t want a whole bunch of people to know about us. So would he have to sign anything if he was paying for it?

CLINIC: No.

CALLER: Oh, okay. Well, if it ended up that I wasn’t pregnant, could I get birth control there?

CLINIC: Yeah. You can come on Wednesday between 5 and 7, and the fee is like $40.

CALLER: Okay. But would anybody have to know if I was on birth control though?

CLINIC: No.

CALLER: To get an abortion I need to have an appointment?

CLINIC: Uh-huh.

CALLER: What time do you normally do abortions?

CLINIC: First of all, you have to go and see what this juvenile bypass will say because they have to approve you to come in without your parent; otherwise you would have to tell your parent before you make this appointment if you want it or not.

CALLER: So when I call them, can I call you back? What was your name?

CLINIC: Well, when you call them, they’ll have to set up an appointment. They’ll have to meet with you. And once they get all of their information done and give you your court order for you to come in and have this done without your parent, then you can set your appointment up.

CALLER: Hi. Yeah. I was calling to see if you guys do abortions there.

CLINIC: Yes, we do.

CALLER: How much does that cost?

CLINIC: It’s $300.

CALLER: Okay. Well, my friend told me that — I’m going to be 14 later on this month. She said that you guys would have to tell my parents. But my boyfriend’s 22. Could he just sign whatever it is, and you wouldn’t have to tell anybody?

CLINIC: If you’re a minor, your parents will have to know or come in and sign a parental consent form.

CALLER: Oh. Well, what is that?

CLINIC: A parental consent form?

CALLER: Yeah.

CLINIC: It’s a consent form that says your parents are consenting to you having an abortion.

CALLER: Oh. Well, is there any way not to have them come in? They can’t find out at all. If they found out that me and my boyfriend were having sex, I don’t know what they would do.

CLINIC: Then you’ll have to call and get a lawyer to go through judicial bypass.

CALLER: How much does that cost?

CLINIC: You’ll have to ask the lawyer. Would you like that number?

CALLER: Yes, please.

CLINIC: Hold on.

(Pause)

CLINIC: Ma’am?

CALLER: Uh-huh?

CLINIC: That number is 578-4000.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Just let them know you’re a minor. You need to go through judicial bypass to have an abortion.

CALLER: Well, could I get a pregnancy test there just to make sure that I was pregnant?

CLINIC: We do that Monday through Thursday from 9 until 2. It’s free of charge as long as you bring in a few drops of your first morning’s urine.

CALLER: Okay. But what you have to tell my parents about that?

CLINIC: No.

CALLER: Okay. Well, my boyfriend said he would bring me and pay for everything. Would that be all right if he was there?

CLINIC: That’s fine. It just doesn’t matter if he’s there or not. You need to have your parents with you to sign a parental consent form.

CALLER: For a pregnancy test too?

CLINIC: No, just for the abortion.

CALLER: Oh, okay. Well, if it ended up that I wasn’t pregnant, could I get birth control?

CLINIC: Yes. You’ll have to call and make a separate appointment for that.

CALLER: Oh, all right. But would anybody have to know about that?

CLINIC: No, ma’am, just if you’re having an abortion.

CALLER: Oh, okay. After I call him, can I call you back? What was your name?

CLINIC: Thank you for choosing Memphis Regional Planned Parenthood. This is Emily. How can I help you?

CALLER: Yeah. I was wondering if you guys do abortions there.

CLINIC: Yes, we do.

CALLER: You do?

CLINIC: Uh-huh.

CALLER: Well, how much does that cost?

CLINIC: $375, ma’am.

CALLER: Okay. Well, my friend told me that like since I’m going to be like 14 in March that you guys have to tell my parents. But my boyfriend’s 22. Can I just have him do it?

CLINIC: Come in for you?

CALLER: Huh?

CLINIC: How old are you?

CALLER: I’ll be 14 in March.

CLINIC: No. You need your parents.

CALLER: Is there any way not to tell them because they can’t find out at all.

CLINIC: Oh, okay. Hold on. Okay? Hold on.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Thank you for holding. This is Emily.

CALLER: Yeah. I was just talking to you.

CLINIC: Oh. You were just speaking to me?

CALLER: Yeah.

CLINIC: About you’re 14?

CALLER: Uh-huh.

CLINIC: Okay. Hold on. (pause)

(MALE CLINIC-WORKER TAKES OVER THE CALL)

CLINIC: Who are you holding for, please?

CALLER: I was holding for Emily.

CLINIC: You had a question about your boyfriend?

CALLER: Yeah. Well, I was just wondering — like he’s 22, and I was wondering if he could sign for me.

CLINIC: What appointment did you have?

CALLER: I don’t have an appointment. Like — well, I was just asking because like my friend told me that — like I’ll be 14 in March and that you guys have to tell my parents. But I was wondering if my boyfriend can just sign because he’s 22.

CLINIC: No.

CALLER: No?

CLINIC: No. What kind of appointment are you needing?

CALLER: Well, I was — a pregnancy test, I guess.

CLINIC: For a pregnancy test?

CALLER: Yeah.

CLINIC: No. We don’t need anybody to sign for that. You can come in and have that.

CALLER: Okay. But, well like I was calling about having an abortion, so.

CLINIC: Okay. If you need that, you will need your parents.

CALLER: Is there any way not to tell my parents, because they can’t find out at all because I would get in big trouble.

CLINIC: Not only you, and your boyfriend.

CALLER: What do you mean? I don’t understand.

CLINIC: You won’t get in big trouble. You might get in trouble with your parents, but your boyfriend is in trouble with the law.

CALLER: What do you mean?

CLINIC: He’s 22, and you’re 14.

CALLER: Yeah? What could happen to him? What do you –

CLINIC: What I’m saying is, is that he can be arrested.

CALLER: Arrested for what?

CLINIC: It’s called statutory rape.

CALLER: Well, what can I do?

CLINIC: The best thing for you to do, although you may be a little afraid to do it is to talk to your parents.

CALLER: But I can’t talk to my parents.

CLINIC: Well, you’re going to need their consent or we’re going to need their permission. The only other way for you to get around talking to your parents about it is to go before a judge and get a judicial bypass.

CALLER: Uh-huh.

CLINIC: I can transfer you to somebody who can give you that information.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: She’s going to tell you the same thing about your boyfriend though.

CALLER: Okay. But we’re in love. We’re going to get married.

CLINIC: Okay. That I can’t really go over with you. I mean, that’s your decision.

CALLER: Okay. Well, do you have to say anything about it?

CLINIC: I don’t know your name yet.

CALLER: Oh, okay.

CLINIC: So at the moment let’s keep it that way. (laughs)

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: I’m going to transfer you to the Q/A person.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: And she can give you the information about getting a judicial bypass.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: All right?

CALLER: Thanks.

(call is transferred)

CLINIC: (pause) Hi, this is Laura, quality assurance coordinator. I can’t come to the phone right now, but if you leave your name, number and a brief message I’ll return your call as soon as –

CALLER: Okay. Well, do you know if like — well I’m just worried because like my friend told me that since like I’ll be 14 in March that you guys have to tell my parents. But my boyfriend’s 22. Could he take care of that, or –

CLINIC: No. If you’re under age 18, they have to notify one of your parents. It’s a state law.

CALLER: Is there any way not to tell them? Because if they found out, I would be in big trouble.

CLINIC: I’m not — I don’t know exactly what that is. I mean, they have to have the consent of one of the parents. If you call one of these two clinics right here, since they perform that procedure, they would be able to tell you more about that.

CALLER: Okay. Well, do you guys do birth control there?

CLINIC: Yes, we do.

CALLER: Okay. So would you — would it be all right if I came in there and got birth control, or like if I wasn’t pregnant?

CLINIC: Yeah. Have you had an exam within the last year?

CALLER: No.

CLINIC: Okay. You have to get an exam, an annual exam.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: And those are based on income and family size. I assume you’re not employed though, right?

CALLER: Right.

CLINIC: Okay. So your exam would be $40.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: And then our pills are $15 a pack.

CALLER: Would you have to tell anybody that I was on birth control?

CLINIC: No, no. We don’t have to notify your parents or anything to get on birth control.

CALLER: Okay. Would it be all right like if my boyfriend brought me, because I don’t know how else I would get there.

CLINIC: You know, unless you tell us that it’s okay — like if your boyfriend wanted to come in and pick up your pills for you, you know, that would be fine with us as long as we have your consent that it’s okay to let him. But like, you know, if your parents call, or whatever, we can’t even tell them that you’re a patient here.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: It’s completely confidential.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Okay?

CALLER: If I talk to him and he had questions would it be all right if I called you back?

CLINIC: Sure.

CALLER: What was your name?

CLINIC: My name is Tina.

CALLER: Okay. Thanks.

CLINIC: Okay. Thank you.

CALLER: Bye.

CLINIC: Bye bye.

(phone clicks)

*** THE END ***

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